The Cherry Tree Chapter Notes | Chapter Notes For Class 8 PDF Download

Introduction

The Cherry Tree is a touching short story written by the renowned Indian author Ruskin Bond. Set in the hill town of Mussoorie, it beautifully captures the bond between a young boy named Rakesh and his grandfather, as they nurture a cherry tree from a single seed to a full-grown tree. The story highlights patience, growth, nature’s wonder, and the quiet joys of rural life. It shows how small acts like planting a seed can grow into something meaningful over time.

About the Author

Ruskin Bond is one of India’s most beloved writers for children. Born in 1934 in Kasauli, he has written hundreds of short stories, novels, and poems that often focus on nature, childhood, and life in the hills. His writing is simple, warm, and filled with gentle humour and wisdom. Bond's stories reflect his deep love for the natural world and his ability to find magic in everyday life. He has won many awards, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to literature.

Ruskin Bond

Key Points of the Story

• Rakesh is a six-year-old boy who loves cherries, brought from the Kashmir Valley, which he buys on his way home from school.
• He lives with his grandfather in a cottage at the edge of Mussoorie, while his parents live in a village where there are no schools.
• Rakesh is sent to live with his grandfather so he can go to school and learn.
• After eating cherries, Rakesh finds the seed and asks his grandfather if it is lucky. His grandfather tells him to plant it to make it lucky.
• Rakesh digs a small hole in the garden and plants the cherry seed, forgetting about it soon after as he plays cricket with friends.
• As winter comes, Rakesh and his grandfather enjoy telling stories by the fire, while Rakesh finds joy in reading the newspaper to his grandfather.
• Spring arrives, and Rakesh discovers the cherry seed has sprouted into a tiny tree, which brings him joy.
• Rakesh takes care of the tree by watering it and protecting it with pebbles, hoping it will grow strong.
• During the rainy season, the cherry tree faces challenges, such as being eaten by a goat and being cut in half by a woman with a scythe.
• Despite these challenges, the cherry tree continues to grow and thrive, showing resilience.
• As Rakesh grows older, he continues to care for the cherry tree, which grows taller and eventually bears fruit.
• Rakesh learns the importance of nurturing and caring for something he has planted, as it becomes special to him and his grandfather.
• The story highlights the bond between Rakesh and his grandfather, as well as the connection they share with nature.

Detailed Summary  

Rakesh was a six-year-old boy living with his grandfather on the outskirts of Mussoorie, near the forest. One day, while walking home from the bazaar, he ate some sweet-and-sour cherries. He gave one to his grandfather and kept one seed in his mouth, rolling it around. Curious, he asked if cherry seeds were lucky. His grandfather replied that luck only comes when we make use of something, so Rakesh decided to plant it.

Rakesh planted the seed in a shady corner of the garden where the earth was soft. He soon forgot about it as he went off to play with his friends. Time passed, and winter came, making the garden bare. Grandfather and Rakesh would sit by the charcoal fire, telling and listening to stories. Rakesh also read aloud from the newspaper for his grandfather, though he found it boring compared to stories.

With the arrival of spring, Rakesh saw wild ducks flying north in a V-shape, a sign that winter had ended. One day, while playing in the garden, he bent to pick up a twig and realised it was the cherry seed he had planted—it had sprouted! Excited, he ran to show Grandfather. The plant was only four inches tall, but it had rooted itself well.

Rakesh began caring for the plant, watering it and surrounding it with pebbles "for privacy." Though he didn’t notice daily changes, slowly it grew. During the monsoon season, the cherry plant thrived, reaching two feet tall. But one day, a goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves. Rakesh was upset, but Grandfather comforted him, saying Cherry trees are tough.

Soon after, a woman cutting grass accidentally cut the tree in half with her sickle. Grandfather scolded her, but the damage was done. Rakesh thought the tree would die, but once again, it began to grow back, sending out fresh shoots. By next summer, the tree was almost up to Rakesh’s chest.

Rakesh, now eight, went home to his village for the monsoon to help his parents on their farm. He returned stronger, and to his joy, the cherry tree had grown another foot. He continued to water it, even when it rained, to show the tree he was present. One day, he saw a praying mantis on its branch, its first visitor.

Later, a hairy caterpillar began eating its leaves, but Rakesh removed it, telling it to come back as a butterfly. Winter returned with snow covering the land, and Grandfather’s stories turned gloomy because the newspaper couldn’t be delivered. Mice made homes in the roof, and everyone waited for spring.

On Rakesh’s ninth birthday in February, the sun finally came out. Grandfather went to the garden and suddenly shouted for Rakesh to come quickly. On a branch of the cherry tree, there was a single pale pink blossom, the first flower. Rakesh and Grandfather looked at it as if it were a miracle.

The following year, more blossoms appeared, and the tree grew taller than both Rakesh and Grandfather. Birds and bees visited it. Rakesh tasted a cherry but found it too sour, though birds enjoyed them. One warm afternoon, he found Grandfather resting under the tree, enjoying its shade. Rakesh joined him and looked up at the sky through the leaves. As the stars came out and crickets began to chirp, Rakesh wondered why this tree felt so special. Grandfather replied, “Because we planted it ourselves.” Rakesh gently touched the bark and asked, “Is this what it feels to be God?” Through their shared experiences with the cherry tree, Rakesh learned about growth, care, and the bond between nature and family. The cherry tree was not just a tree; it was a symbol of their love and the memories they created together.

Theme/ Message

• The main theme of the story is the connection between nature and humanity. Rakesh's relationship with the cherry tree symbolises how nurturing something can lead to growth and happiness.
• Another important theme is resilience. The cherry tree faces many obstacles, yet it continues to grow stronger, showing that challenges can be overcome with care and persistence.
• The story emphasises the importance of family, as the bond between Rakesh and his grandfather is central to the narrative. Their shared experiences bring them closer together.
• The message of the story is that every small action, like planting a seed, can lead to something wonderful. It teaches that with love and care, we can create beautiful things in our lives.
• Additionally, the story conveys that patience and dedication are essential when nurturing relationships or projects. Rakesh learns that taking care of the cherry tree requires time and effort.
• Ultimately, the story reminds readers to appreciate the simple joys in life, such as the beauty of nature and the warmth of family connections.

Difficult Words

• Terraced: Arranged in a series of flat areas or levels, often used for farming on hillsides.
• Spirited: Full of life and energy; lively.
• Resilience: The ability to recover quickly from difficulties or challenges.
• Blossom: A flower or a mass of flowers; the state of flowering.
• Scythe: A tool used for cutting grass or crops, consisting of a long, curved blade.
• Feasting: Eating and plentifully enjoying food.
• Yielding: Soft and easy to work with; giving way under pressure.
• Peering: Looking closely or carefully at something.
• Sprouting: The process of a seed beginning to grow and develop.
• Caterpillar: The larval stage of a butterfly or moth, usually a worm-like creature.
• Charcoal: A black carbon material made from burning wood, used for cooking and heating.
• Deodar: A type of tall evergreen tree found in the Himalayas.
• Bulbul: A type of bird known for its beautiful singing.
• Whispered: To speak very softly or quietly.